I picked up this novel, as it was one that the Waterstone's Book Club were reading, and the title just grabbed me. I know books shouldn't be judged from the title but this one seemed so menacing, and a nice easy diversion from the 'heavy' Shakespeare play that I am studying at Uni just now. I'm not a fan of chick-lit but the tag 'psychological thriller' eventually sold it to me so, always glad of a scary suspense novel, I decided to give it a go.
This is a freakishly chilling novel whose clever construction through the mirroring of the events of each chapter from one woman's viewpoint reflected in the following chapter from that of the other woman, allows the reader to fully experience the almost over-friendly 'two-facedness' of Nina, and the trusting naivete of Emma. Now in their early forties, these two women have met in the past; it isn't until the very end of the novel that the reader discovers the reason for Nina's obsessive, grudging and stalking attitude to the oblivious Emma, and the devastating and nightmarish consequences of these emotions.
The characters were very well written - I got so frustrated with Emma and Ben and kept shouting at her to get him to do more to help her, while Nina just gave me the creeps, even before her darker side became evident. I got so engrossed in the characters and the spiralling events that I ended up reading this novel in just four hours!
Really enjoyed it, so it gets four stars out of five from me.
This is a freakishly chilling novel whose clever construction through the mirroring of the events of each chapter from one woman's viewpoint reflected in the following chapter from that of the other woman, allows the reader to fully experience the almost over-friendly 'two-facedness' of Nina, and the trusting naivete of Emma. Now in their early forties, these two women have met in the past; it isn't until the very end of the novel that the reader discovers the reason for Nina's obsessive, grudging and stalking attitude to the oblivious Emma, and the devastating and nightmarish consequences of these emotions.
The characters were very well written - I got so frustrated with Emma and Ben and kept shouting at her to get him to do more to help her, while Nina just gave me the creeps, even before her darker side became evident. I got so engrossed in the characters and the spiralling events that I ended up reading this novel in just four hours!
Really enjoyed it, so it gets four stars out of five from me.
CAN PURPOSE OF FAITH DENIERS BE SAVED? BY STEVE FINNELL
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to have faith in Jesus but deny the purpose of faith and still be saved?
John 8:22-24.....24 'Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
Jesus told certain Jews that unless they believed that He was the Son of God that they would die in their sins. The question remains, if the Jews said "We believe you are the Son of God, however, that is not essential to the forgiveness of sins;" would their sins still be forgiven? CAN YOU DENY THE PURPOSE OF FAITH AND STILL HAVE YOUR SINS FORGIVEN?
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall perish, but have eternal life.
Is it reasonable to assume that men can say, "We believe that Jesus is God's Son and the Savior of the world, however, that has nothing to do with us receiving eternal life," and that they will still be saved? CAN MEN DENY THE PURPOSE OF FAITH AND STILL RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE?
Acts 16:29-31 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and said "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
If the Jailer had told Paul and Silas that he would believe as an act of obedience and a testimony of his faith, but that believing had nothing to do with his salvation; would the jailer have been saved? CAN MEN DENY THE PURPOSE OF BELIEVING IN THE LORD JESUS AND STILL BE SAVED?
CAN THE PURPOSE OF WATER BAPTISM DENIERS BE SAVED?
Is logical to assume you can be baptized in water, but deny its purpose and still be saved?
Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
What are the probabilities that if the three thousand on the Day of Pentecost had told Peter, "We will be baptized, however, it is not in order to have our sins forgiven," would their sins still be forgiven? CAN MEN DENY THE PURPOSE OF WATER BAPTISM AND STILL HAVE THEIR SINS FORGIVEN.
Acts 22:12-16....16 Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name!
What if Saul had told Ananias, "I had my sins washed away on the road to Damascus, but I will be baptized as an act of obedience and as a testimony of my faith," would Saul's sins have been washed away? CAN MEN DENY THE PURPOSE OF WATER BAPTISM AND STILL HAVE THEIR SINS FORGIVEN?
Ephesians 5:25-27... just as Christ loved the church gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
What if men were to say that Christ washed the church with water, however, it had nothing to do with, sanctifying her, cleansing her, making her spotless, or rendering her holy and blameless? CAN MEN DENY THE PURPOSE OF WATER BAPTISM AND STILL RECEIVED ITS BENEFITS?
1 Peter 3:20-21 ....safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you....
Is it plausible for men to proclaim that they were baptized in water, but it played no part in their salvation?Can they still be saved? CAN MEN DENY THE PURPOSE OF WATER BAPTISM AND STILL BE SAVED?
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR MEN TO DENY THE PURPOSE OF FAITH AND WATER BAPTISM AND STILL BE SAVED?
Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved..... CAN YOU DENY THAT AND STILL BE SAVED?????
(All Scripture quotes from: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE)
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